The reasons to aerate and overseed your lawn during the fall are plenty. Cool nights and short, mild fall days provide the ideal conditions for grass seed germination. Other benefits include increased lawn density and slower-growing turfgrass.
Temperature
When thinking about fall aeration, the temperature is often a significant concern. The ideal temperature for aeration is in the 60s.
As for overseeding, cool temperatures have another benefit: less chance of disease problems in newly seeded areas.
Cooler soil temperatures mean slower growth rates. So your new grass seedlings are less likely to become infected by diseases like brown patch. In addition, the cooler air temperatures equate to warmer soil temperatures in which seeds are better able to retain moisture and thrive once their roots take hold.
Overseeding Increases Lawn Density
Whether your lawn is bare or thin, overseeding is one of the best ways to spruce up your yard.
- Fill in bare spots: If you have bald patches on your yard, overseeding can make them look lush again by seeding them with an appropriate blend of grasses.
- Fill in thin spots: If areas of the yard have sparse grass coverage, you can fill those spots by overseeding.
- Add height: Lawns that receive heavy foot traffic lose their density quickly due to compaction, which a combination of aeration and overseeding alleviates.
Turf Growth Slows Down
While laying turfgrass seed in the fall may seem counterintuitive, there are several advantages to seeding at this time. First, because of cooler temperatures and shorter days, turf growth slows significantly during fall.
As a result, the newly seeded grass can properly compete for nutrients and water supplies that established turfgrasses would otherwise use.
In addition to allowing the new seed a good chance to compete with established turf, the fall also acts as natural weed control. The cool soil of the fall helps prevent weed seeds from germinating while your new lawn takes root and establishes itself.